Former town of Lysander supervisor charged with criminal mischief

View full sizeProvided photoBarry Bullis is the former town of Lysander supervisor.

Baldwinsville, NY -- Former town of Lysander Supervisor Barry W. Bullis was charged Tuesday with criminal mischief, according to state police.

Bullis was charged with the misdemeanor after an incident that occurred on Nov. 10 after a town board meeting at the Lysander Town Hall. Bullis is accused of intentionally damaging a video camera owned by Fred Burtch Jr., according to Assistant District Attorney Shawn Weed.

Burtch, who ran against Bullis in a primary in September and lost, attends all of the town board meetings and records them. He told The Post-Standard in November that after the Nov. 10 meeting he found one of his cameras damaged. It had coffee spilled on it.

His other camera captured the incident. Burtch said Bullis is seen on the video pouring his coffee on the equipment.

Bullis, who could not be reached for comment, told The Post-Standard in November that he was not aware that Burtch’s equipment was damaged and was not involved.

Burtch and Bullis have had disagreements since 2008 when Burtch was accused of desecrating gravestones at the 185-year-old “Old Presbyterian Cemetery” next door to his home. Burtch denied vandalizing the cemetery.

In the summer of 2010, the town board approved installing a fence along the east and north sides of the cemetery.

Burtch collected more than 600 signatures on a petition that forced the board to forgo the project. After the victory, Burtch said he wanted to stay involved with the town politics and last summer Burtch vied for the town supervisor job held by Bullis.

Burtch lost to Bullis in a Republican primary in September by 36 votes. Bullis eventually lost the election Nov. 8 to current town Supervisor John Salisbury.

Bullis was issued an appearance ticket to appear at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 in Lysander Town Court.

Gary Walts / The Post-StandardTown of Lysander resident Fred Burtch gives the Lysander town council a copy of the town minutes during a dispute in June 2010 over putting a fence around the Old Presbyterian Cemetery on Plainville Road.